In Case You Missed It
Treasurer Damschen Op-Ed in the Washington Times
Expanding Small Business Access to Retirement Plans;
States Will Offer Innovative Solutions if Congress Doesn’t Interfere
Washington Times
“Expanding Small Business Access to Retirement Plans; States Will Offer Innovative Solutions if Congress Doesn’t Interfere”
By Utah Treasurer David Damschen and former Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock
March 7, 2017 PM
Minutes after taking the oath of office on Jan. 20, President Trump declared that the era of “transferring power from Washington, D.C.” back to the states and to the American people had officially begun. The president’s speech made clear that Republican control of the White House and Congress meant that states — the great laboratories of democracy — would finally have greater leeway to solve problems the Washington bureaucracy has failed to solve for generations.
Unfortunately, recent actions in Congress make evident that some lawmakers really do believe the federal government knows best and will act to kill innovation occurring in the nation’s statehouses… In fact, these lawmakers aim to impede progress on one of America’s most pressing challenges: the retirement savings crisis.
More than 55 million Americans — one-half of the private-sector work force — do not have access to a way to save for retirement through an employer-based plan. Many of these are small businesses who do not offer plans because of the costs and complexities of today’s federal laws and regulations.
Today, almost one-third of households age 55-64 have no defined benefit or defined contribution retirement savings, leaving Social Security as their primary source of retirement income…
To address this challenge, the U.S. Department of Labor issued rules and guidance providing rare regulatory relief for states to create simple, low-cost, state-facilitated retirement plans for workers who do not currently have access to a retirement plan through their employer. These public-private partnerships would help small businesses and low- and moderate-income working Americans, who the private-sector retirement savings industry admits has not been profitable for them to help, save for retirement.
Yet, the U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to undo this regulatory guidance that has helped to drive rapid state innovation. Congress should heed Mr. Trump’s words and allow states the freedom to innovate and expand worker access to more ways to save for retirement. The U.S. Senate should refuse to repeat the action taken by the House that would repeal the Department of Labor rules.
The Trump administration and Congress should support the state efforts for four reasons:
…
To read more visit http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/7/retirement-plans-must-be-available-to-small-busine/
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CHASE GASSAWAY
PREMIERES ACOUSTIC VIDEO
FOR "HO HEY" (THE LUMINEERS COVER)
WITH MOTHER CHURCH PEW
WATCH HERE
NEW COVERS RECORD A FLY CAN'T BIRD AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE HERE
"[Gassaway's] got a true talent for revitalizing even a song we weren't sure we ever wanted to hear again." -Cover Me
"A Fly Can't Bird will find the Texas native tackling some seriously notable songs."
-Rock Cellar Magazine
MARCH 8, 2017 - AUSTIN, TX - Singer-songwriter, Chase Gassaway, is premiering the acoustic video for his cover of "Ho Hey" (The Lumineers), exclusively today via Mother Church Pew. Watch HERE. "Ho Hey" was the first single from Gassaway's recently released covers record, A Fly Can't Bird, available for purchase, here. For more information on Chase Gassaway, please visit: https://www.chasegassaway.com/.
In regard to A Fly Can't Bird, Gassaway explains, "I wanted to cover some of my friend's songs; then I ended up with a whole album". The record provides original interpretations to some radio hits, while also giving a more personal look into Gassaway's life, with covers of songs by friends and emerging Austin artists. From local bands like Quiet Company and Alpha Rev, to known acts like The Temptations and John Legend, A Fly Can't Bird re-imagines select songs with Chase's signature blend of rootsy guitars, strings and horns.
Leading up to the album release, Gassaway unveiled three singles. "Ho Hey" was the first, and it premiered with Cover Me, who wrote, "[Gassaway's] got a true talent for revitalizing even a song we weren't sure we ever wanted to hear again." The following single, a cover of The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", premiered with Rock Cellar Magazine, who wrote, "A Fly Can't Bird will find the Texas native tackling some seriously notable songs". On top of this, Gassaway premiered his final single, a cover of The Rocketboys' "The Best", exclusively with Paste Magazine.
A lifelong Texan, Gassaway studied music composition and theory in college, honing his skills as a composer by creating works for a wide range of ensembles from choirs to full orchestras, as well as composing the score to short film Take Two. He was also trained in classical guitar and voice, and plays a variety of instruments from banjolele to reed organ. His training, and the onstage lessons he learned as a solo performer and member of groups such as Canaries in the Coal Mine and formally the Matchmaker Band, has resulted in a multi-textured sound that recalls artists such as the Head & the Heart and Ben Folds.
In 2014, after releasing a few EPs over the years, Gassaway unleashed his first full length record, Certain Circles, which was called "fresh from beginning to end" by No Depression and "well-played, well-sung, beautifully arranged, and masterfully recorded"by Texas Music Magazine.His new album, A Fly Can't Bird represents not only a solid follow-up, but also a placeholder while he prepares for the next chapter of his life. Gassaway and his wife Kassie welcomed their first child this month, so he's happy to set aside his tour schedule to focus on his new role as a father.
A Fly Can't Bird
1. Ain't Too Proud to Beg (The Temptations)
2. Never There (Cake)
3. The Best (The Rocketboys)
4. Ho Hey (The Lumineers)
5. Remain (Tyrone Wells)
6. All of Me (John Legend)
7. How Do You Do It (Quiet Company)
8. Black Sky (Alpha Rev)
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In an effort to keep Americans safer on the roads this year, BackgroundChecks.org researched state DUI rankings. The report was released on March 9, 2017. BackgroundChecks.org used a combination of CDC, Department of Transportation data, and local state data, to create a comprehensive score for each state.
Utah was ranked #5 as one of ten best states, having the least problems with DUI and drunk driving.
The 10 states with the least DUI Problems are: New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, Utah, Rhode Island, Virginia, Indiana, Washington, and Kansas.
The top 10 states with DUI problems in America are Wyoming,North Dakota,South Dakota,Montana, South Carolina, Mississippi,New Mexico, Kentucky, and Maine.
"The fact that over 10,000 people a year die from DUI related accidents is a travesty", said Trent Wilson, co-author of the research. "We hope this research will open some eyes and make people think twice before drinking and driving."
DUIs were on the rise in 2016, according to data released late last year by the CDC and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
BackgroundChecks.org is an organization devoted to Public Safety, Online Privacy, Home Security, and Open Government. Their technology tools and resources are used by hundreds of thousands of users each to month. As part of their commitment to public safety, they constantly conduct new research to shed insight on issues that affect the public welfare.
The full research is available here: http://backgroundchecks.org/which-states-have-the-worst-dui-problems.html
If I can be of any help, let me know.
Jason Quimby
Media Director
BackgroundChecks.org
113 Barksdale Prof Center, Newark DE 19711
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Grab your work gloves and come out to the park and volunteer. Comcast will be providing a light breakfast and lunch, as well as free t-shirts for volunteers. In addition, they will provide a grant to North Ogden City for every volunteer that helps out.
WHEN: April 22nd, 2017
· Registration and breakfast from 7:00am – 8:00am
· Projects from 8:00am – 12:00pm
· Lunch at Noon
WHEN: North Ogden Park – 2705 N 550 E – Meet at the East Bowery
We will be planting over 25 trees at Barker Park, cleaning up the community garden, landscaping, planting flowers, revamping the dog park and much more! There is something for all ages. Bring your family and friends. We would love to have you join us – please bring tools and gloves.
Please submit a registration so we know your shirt size and have enough food for everyone!
https://www.comcastinthecommunity.com/Project/Detail?projectId=8981
